Quality

Quality control:

Inspection at the end

• Focus on outputs

• Defective products are inspected out, not prevented

Advantages:

• Minimum disruption

• Applies consistent quality standard

Disadvantages:

• Wasteful

• Costly

• Risk of inconsistent quality due to different inspectors

Quality assurance:

Quality built into the process of making the product so they chance of a poor quality product is eliminated

• Focus on processes

• Achieved by improving production processes

• Targeted at the whole business

• Emphasises the customer

• Quality is built into the product

Quality circles:

Groups of employees who meet to identify potential improvements in the production process, and resolve issues of poor quality.

• 6-12 employees usually in the same department

Advantages:

• Teamwork

• Better quality

• Productivity

• Positive culture

Disadvantages:

• Loss of work time

• Employees may not be sure of the purpose

• Maybe not trained

• May be forced

• Need management to follow up and support

Total Quality Management - type of assurance:

Committed to a focus on continuous improvements of product and services with the involvement of the entire workforce

Advantages:

• Puts customer at heart of production process

• Motivational since workers are more involved

• Less wasteful

• Eliminates cost of inspection

Disadvantages:

• Requires strong leadership

• Large training investment

• May become bureucratic

• Disruption and costs

Kaizen - type of assurance:

Every employee must look for small ways to improve products